The NASCAR driver used a slur after Martinsville Speedway
On Sunday, NASCAR raced at Martinsville Speedway. The half-mile track brought the drama to the NASCAR Cup Series event.
The race was final playoff elimination event. 8 drivers took the green with a shot at a championship, only 4 would advance into next week’s championship round at Phoenix Raceway.
There’s little Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski like about each other. And in the closing laps at Martinsville Speedway, the two drivers were rubbing on the fenders for 2nd place.
On the final lap, Keselowski drove over Busch’s left rear. The no. 18 car bounced off the wall but still crossed the finish line in 2nd. However, both drivers were in a must win situation and neither driver advanced into next week’s championship with the result.
After the finish, Kyle Busch turned left across the nose of Brad Keselowski, wrecking himself. Moments later, Denny Hamlin met with Alex Bowman on the front stretch in a separate post-race drama.
Related: Denny Hamlin runs into Alex Bowman after Martinsville win (Videos)
Kyle Busch comments on Brad Keselowski
“I raced Brad fantastic all day,” Busch said of the race with Keselowski.
“I mean, I held him up more than any other driver out there the entire race.” He added, “I was on the outside, my car was better on the outside today, and he couldn’t make it by me and he ran me relatively clean. Once he got enough alongside of me, he kind of washed out and moved me up a little bit, which is fine — I get it.”
Busch added, “Then coming to the checkered, just that dumb (expletive). That right there is going to make me race him differently, even though he had all the coins in the bucket the whole day, just emptied it out right there at the end.”
Related: Kyle Busch uses slur after Martinsville; Driver issues apology (Video)
Kyle Busch uses r-word in post race media availability
In a separate post race interview, Kyle Busch used the r-word slur. These are the comments that grabbed the attention of the sanctioning body.
“He drills my ass coming out of four, for no reason,” Kyle Busch stated to Dustin Long in a video after the race.
“I mean, where was he going? What was he going to do, spin me out? He was trying to do a Harvick is what he was trying to do.”
“For what? For 2nd place? To do what? He wasn’t going to transfer through with that.
“It’s frickin’ retarded, man, and so stupid. I don’t understand these guys. I should beat the shit out of him right now is what I should do, but that doesn’t do me any good either.”
Busch added, “I’ve already had to pay enough fines in my lifetime, I’m sure I’ll get another one [if I beat the shit out of him].”
Related: Brad Keselowski comments on the word used by Busch
NASCAR regulates the comments
only hours after making the comment, Busch issued an apology via twitter: “In one of my post-race interviews I used a word I should never use and I want to apologize for it.”
NASCAR isn’t typically strict on language. However, certain words cross the line and this is one that violates section 12.8.1.e.
12.8.1.e: “Public statement and/or communication that criticizes, ridicules, or otherwise disparages another person based upon that person’s race, color, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, or handicapping condition.”
On Monday night, NASCAR announced that Kyle Busch would be required to take sensitivity training before the start of the 2022 season. No further penalties are announced.
Sensitivity training is consistent with previous similar violations. Back in January, Hailie Deegan used the same r-word during an online race. Deegan was also required to undergo sensitivity training.
Kyle Busch was recently fined $50,000 after cutting through orange cones while driving his wrecked car to the garage area.
Related: NASCAR driver Kyle Busch fined $50,000
Links
Brad Keselowski | Kyle Busch | Martinsville Speedway | NASCAR
